Security Council Background Statement Procedural Reminder: Delegates are reminded that at the PACMUN Conference, they are not expected to arrive with complete resolutions. Delegates are expected to prepare a policy statement that can be read in one minute and three solid operative clauses with which to caucus and kick-off debates. Resolutions are expected to emerge from the debates in the committees. TOPICPERMANENT MISSION OF BRAZIL TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL CHAIRSGABIN PELLÉ and ANDREW COX Brazil is the largest country in Latin America in terms of population, GDP and land area. It has the fifth largest population, sixth largest GDP, and eleventh largest defense budget in the world. Furthermore, with Africa and Oceania, Latin America is one of three inhabited region without permanent representation on the Security Council. Brazil has been elected ten times to the Security Council. It has contributed troops to UN peacekeeping efforts in the Middle East, the former Belgian Congo, Cyprus, Mozambique, Angola, and more recently East Timor and Haiti. Brazil is one of the main contributors to the UN budget. The United States sent strong indications to Brazil that it was willing to support its permanent membership although, without veto power. In June 2011, the Council on Foreign Relations recommended that the US government fully endorse the inclusion of Brazil as a permanent member of the Security Council. Brazil has received backing from other permanent members, Russia, the United Kingdom, and France, from the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), and from Chile, Indonesia, Finland, Slovenia, Australia, South Africa, Guatemala, Vietnam and the Philippines, as well as from the other G4 nations. The greatest obstacle to its candidacy is the regional opposition of both Mexico and Argentina, two important countries in Latin America. Brazil has been in the Security Council already nine times: 1946-47, 1951-52, 1954-55, 1963-64, 1967-68, 1988-89, 1993-94, 1998-99 and 2004-05. Brazil, a founding member of the U.N., was among the five new council members chosen in the vote alongside Bosnia, Gabon, Lebanon and Nigeria. Each will serve a two-year term on the 15-member body starting January 2010. Brazil has the seventh largest economy in the world at 2.5 Trillion GDP. This is expected to rise even further with the 7.3% annual increase in 2010. Brazil is ranked 6th in the world by nominal GDP and 7th by Purchasing Power Parity. Brazil has an A- credit rating (Domestic), BBB (foreign) and A- (T&C assessment). CRISIS STATEMENT Argentina has just released a statement, in which it considers resuming its war with The United Kingdom. “Should legislation including Brazilian permanent Security Council membership pass, war will resume against Brazil’s ally, the UK. The permanent five members of the Security Council were those who won the Second World War, trusted with ensuring peace for years to come. We have upheld this position since and worked hard to continue this mission. Brazil is not ready for P5 membership. They lack the power required to hold such a position. There are far too many superior candidates for Brazil to be accepted. Should they join the P5, the balance shall be broken and peace will not continue. Should they join, we will be forced to carry the burden of answering to a country, unsuitable to the power it’s been given. This attack is to prove that we will not be pushed around. We give Brazil 12 hours to retract their bid for P5 membership before we attack.” Brazil responded by declaring they would occupy Uruguay and use it as a base from which to launch ships towards Argentina. Uruguay, after Brazil made its remark, stated that any attempts of the “invasion” of their nation would cause an outbreak of war. Argentina resounded by stating that any such move would bring Brazil into the conflict for the worse, as nobody wants a three-way battle. Brazilian forces have already begun to mobilize, and it appears that they will continue with their original plans.
The United Kingdom has reportedly sent a nuclear submarine to the Falklands. The Vanguard is one of four English nuclear attack submarines. The Falkland Islands are currently an agreed "non nuclear zone", broken by the alleged submarine. The U.N. ambassador of England said "The whole point of nuclear submarines is that they go all around the world and you don't know where they are." No confirmation has been given by the UK about the validity of this report.
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER: - Who are the G4? - What is your country’s involvement in the Security Council? - Does your country have a position in the Security Council or by a regional representative? - Is your country being considered in the reformation of permanent seats on the Security Council? - Would your country support Brazil’s intuitive leap to a permanent spot in the Security Council? - What can the Security Council do to ensure a peaceful solution to the issue?
Procedural Reminder: Delegates are reminded that at the PACMUN Conference, they are not expected to arrive with complete resolutions. Delegates are expected to prepare a policy statement that can be read in one minute and three solid operative clauses with which to caucus and kick-off debates. Resolutions are expected to emerge from the debates in the committees.
TOPIC PERMANENT MISSION OF BRAZIL TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL
CHAIRS GABIN PELLÉ and ANDREW COX
Brazil is the largest country in Latin America in terms of population, GDP and land area. It has the fifth largest population, sixth largest GDP, and eleventh largest defense budget in the world. Furthermore, with Africa and Oceania, Latin America is one of three inhabited region without permanent representation on the Security Council.
Brazil has been elected ten times to the Security Council. It has contributed troops to UN peacekeeping efforts in the Middle East, the former Belgian Congo, Cyprus, Mozambique, Angola, and more recently East Timor and Haiti. Brazil is one of the main contributors to the UN budget.
The United States sent strong indications to Brazil that it was willing to support its permanent membership although, without veto power. In June 2011, the Council on Foreign Relations recommended that the US government fully endorse the inclusion of Brazil as a permanent member of the Security Council. Brazil has received backing from other permanent members, Russia, the United Kingdom, and France, from the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), and from Chile, Indonesia, Finland, Slovenia, Australia, South Africa, Guatemala, Vietnam and the Philippines, as well as from the other G4 nations.
The greatest obstacle to its candidacy is the regional opposition of both Mexico and Argentina, two important countries in Latin America. Brazil has been in the Security Council already nine times: 1946-47, 1951-52, 1954-55, 1963-64, 1967-68, 1988-89, 1993-94, 1998-99 and 2004-05. Brazil, a founding member of the U.N., was among the five new council members chosen in the vote alongside Bosnia, Gabon, Lebanon and Nigeria. Each will serve a two-year term on the 15-member body starting January 2010.
Brazil has the seventh largest economy in the world at 2.5 Trillion GDP. This is expected to rise even further with the 7.3% annual increase in 2010. Brazil is ranked 6th in the world by nominal GDP and 7th by Purchasing Power Parity. Brazil has an A- credit rating (Domestic), BBB (foreign) and A- (T&C assessment).
CRISIS STATEMENT
Argentina has just released a statement, in which it considers resuming its war with The United Kingdom. “Should legislation including Brazilian permanent Security Council membership pass, war will resume against Brazil’s ally, the UK. The permanent five members of the Security Council were those who won the Second World War, trusted with ensuring peace for years to come. We have upheld this position since and worked hard to continue this mission. Brazil is not ready for P5 membership. They lack the power required to hold such a position. There are far too many superior candidates for Brazil to be accepted. Should they join the P5, the balance shall be broken and peace will not continue. Should they join, we will be forced to carry the burden of answering to a country, unsuitable to the power it’s been given. This attack is to prove that we will not be pushed around. We give Brazil 12 hours to retract their bid for P5 membership before we attack.”
Brazil responded by declaring they would occupy Uruguay and use it as a base from which to launch ships towards Argentina. Uruguay, after Brazil made its remark, stated that any attempts of the “invasion” of their nation would cause an outbreak of war. Argentina resounded by stating that any such move would bring Brazil into the conflict for the worse, as nobody wants a three-way battle. Brazilian forces have already begun to mobilize, and it appears that they will continue with their original plans.
The United Kingdom has reportedly sent a nuclear submarine to the Falklands. The Vanguard is one of four English nuclear attack submarines. The Falkland Islands are currently an agreed "non nuclear zone", broken by the alleged submarine. The U.N. ambassador of England said "The whole point of nuclear submarines is that they go all around the world and you don't know where they are." No confirmation has been given by the UK about the validity of this report.
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:
- Who are the G4?
- What is your country’s involvement in the Security Council?
- Does your country have a position in the Security Council or by a regional representative?
- Is your country being considered in the reformation of permanent seats on the Security Council?
- Would your country support Brazil’s intuitive leap to a permanent spot in the Security Council?
- What can the Security Council do to ensure a peaceful solution to the issue?
HELPFUL WEBSITES:
United Nations:
http://www.un.org/en/
CIA factbook:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html
Permanet mission of Brazil to the United Nations
http://www.un.int/brazil/
United Press International:
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2009/10/16/Brazil-campaigning-for-permanent-UN-Security-Council-seat/UPI-71131255711794/
France 24
http://www.france24.com/en/20120211-argentina-uk-falklands-islands-nuclear-submarine